One Hundred Humbugs (Aspen Cove #25)

Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The next day, Ruby stood in the kitchen, watching Becket as he iced the gingerbread cookies. His brow was furrowed in concentration, the tip of his tongue poking out as he piped intricate designs onto each gingerbread man. The sight would have been endearing if Ruby’s mind wasn’t still preoccupied with Marge’s phone call from yesterday.

“I think I need some air,” Ruby said, causing Becket to look up from his work. “I’m just going to take a quick walk, clear my head a bit.”

Concern crossed Becket’s face. “Do you want me to come with you?”

Ruby shook her head. “No, you stay here and work your cookie magic. I won’t be long.”

Before Becket could protest, Ruby grabbed her coat and headed out the door. The crisp winter air nipped at her cheeks as she made her way down the snow-dusted sidewalk. Her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions.

The offer on the house was more than she could have hoped for. It would solve so many of her problems—pay off her debts, give her a fresh start. Isn’t that why she came to Aspen Cove in the first place? To sell the house and move on with her life?

But as she walked past the twinkling lights and decorations lining Main Street, a pang hit Ruby’s chest. This town, which had seemed so foreign and unwelcoming when she first arrived, now was home. The thought of leaving it all behind made her heart ache in a way she hadn’t expected.

Lost in thought, Ruby almost bumped into someone coming out of B’s Bakery.

“Oh! I’m so sorry,” Ruby apologized, steadying herself.

“No harm done,” came the cheerful reply. Ruby looked up to see Katie, the baker, balancing a tray of steaming muffins. “Ruby! Care to be my taste tester?”

Before Ruby could respond, Katie was ushering her into the warm, sweet-smelling bakery. “I’m trying out a new recipe for the Christmas festival. I want to serve something other than brownies. These are gingerbread muffins with eggnog glaze. What do you think?”

Ruby was perched on a chair in front of the window, a muffin in hand before she could process what was happening. She took a bite, the flavors of spice and sweetness exploding on her tongue.

“This is amazing,” she said, genuinely impressed.

Katie beamed. “Oh, I’m so glad you like it! I was worried the eggnog might be too much, but Bowie insisted it was perfect.”

As if summoned by his name, Bowie appeared from the back room, holding his daughter Sahara’s hand. “Hey there, Ruby,” he greeted. “Enjoying Katie’s latest creation?”

Ruby nodded, swallowing another bite of muffin. “It’s delicious. You’ve got a real talent, Katie.”

Katie nodded. “Thank you. You know, baking wasn’t always my plan. Life has a funny way of leading you where you’re meant to be.”

There was something in Katie’s tone that piqued Ruby’s curiosity. “What do you mean?”

Katie exchanged a glance with Bowie, who nodded encouragingly. “Well, it’s quite a story. Do you have some time?”

Ruby thought about the decision waiting for her back at the house, about Becket and the cookies. But something told her this was important. She nodded.

Katie took a deep breath. “Before I came here, I was living in Dallas. I had a corporate job, the kind where you wear uncomfortable shoes and count down the minutes until you can leave. I thought that was what I wanted, you know? The big city life, the career.”

Ruby nodded, the description hitting close to home.

“But then,” Katie continued, her voice softening, “I got sick. Really sick. It turned out I needed a heart transplant.”

Ruby’s eyes widened. “Oh, Katie, I’m so sorry.”

Katie reached out to squeeze Ruby’s hand. “Don’t be. It led me here, to this life I never knew I wanted.” She paused, her eyes growing distant, as if reliving a memory. “A few years after the transplant, I received a pink letter. It was from a woman named Bea Bennett, who is someone I’d never met. The letter ... it changed everything.”

“What did it say?” Ruby asked, captivated.

Katie laughed. “It was the strangest thing. Bea had given me this bakery and had written me a list of 100 reasons why I would be wonderful in this little town called Aspen Cove, a place I’d never even heard of before.”

“A hundred reasons?” Ruby echoed, amazed.

“Yes, and the first reason on that list was ‘because you have a good heart.’” Katie’s hand unconsciously moved to her chest. “It wasn’t just a list, though. Somehow, Bea knew everything about me. My hopes, my fears, even the dreams I’d been too afraid to admit to myself.”

A chill ran down Ruby’s spine. “That’s incredible. But how did she know all that about you?”

Katie’s expression turned bittersweet. “It turns out, the heart I received ... it was from Bea’s daughter, Brandy. Bea had hired a private investigator to find out about me. She wanted to know who had received her daughter’s heart.”

Ruby’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, Katie...”

Katie nodded. “It was overwhelming at first. But Bea’s letter felt like a gift. Not just a list of reasons, but a roadmap to a life I didn’t even know I wanted. So, I decided to take a chance. I came to Aspen Cove.”

“And that’s where you met Bowie?” Ruby asked.

Katie’s face lit up. “Yes. He was one of the first people I met here. We just ... clicked. And the rest of the town... Ruby, from the moment I arrived, it was like coming home. Everyone rallied around me, helped me reopen the bakery. They became my extended family, gave me a second chance at life.”

Ruby nodded, thinking about her own experiences in Aspen Cove. The kindness of the townspeople, the way they’d embraced her and Becket, goats and all.

“I know you’re facing a big decision,” Katie said. “Marge mentioned the offer on your uncle’s house. And I’m not trying to sway you one way or the other. But I want you to know that whatever you choose, you have a place here. In Aspen Cove, no one’s ever truly alone.”

Ruby’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you, Katie. That means more than you know.”

As Ruby left the bakery, her mind was even more conflicted than before. But now, mixed in with the uncertainty, was a feeling she couldn’t quite explain. She thought about Katie’s story, about the mysterious Bea Bennett and the power of a pink letter to change a life.

Almost without realizing it, Ruby ended up outside Maisey’s Diner. The warm glow from the windows beckoned her inside, promising comfort and clarity.

The bell above the door jingled as Ruby entered, drawing Maisey’s attention from behind the counter.

“Well, look who it is,” Maisey said, her eyes twinkling. “Shouldn’t you be elbow-deep in cookie dough right about now?”

Ruby managed a weak smile as she slid onto a stool at the counter. “I needed a break. Some time to think.”

Maisey’s expression softened. She poured a cup of coffee and placed it in front of Ruby without being asked. “When Marge came by for coffee this morning, she told me about the offer on the house. That’s quite a decision you’ve got in front of you.”

Ruby wrapped her hands around the warm mug, grateful for its comforting heat. Marge sure got around—nothing stayed quiet for long in this town. “I don’t know what to do, Maisey. The money would solve so many problems, but...”

“But you’re not sure if it’s worth giving up everything else,” Maisey finished for her.

Ruby nodded, surprised at how easily Maisey had read her thoughts. “Is it crazy to even hesitate? I mean, this is what I came here for. To sell the house and go back to my life in Chicago.”

Maisey leaned on the counter, her eyes filled with understanding. “You know, Ruby, your situation reminds me of something I went through years ago. Mind if I share a little story? ”

Ruby took a sip of her coffee, settling in to listen.

“It was about thirty years ago,” Maisey began. “I was a single mom, struggling to make ends meet in the city. I came back to Aspen Cove because I had nowhere else to go. This diner was up for sale, and I knew it could be a fresh start for me and my son, Dalton, but I didn’t have two pennies to rub together.”

Ruby leaned forward, intrigued.

“That’s when Doc stepped in,” Maisey continued. “He loaned me the money to buy this place. Said he believed in me, and that Aspen Cove needed a good diner. It wasn’t easy at first, juggling a new business and a young kid, but the town rallied around us. They became our family.”

Maisey paused, refilling Ruby’s coffee cup before continuing. “I had to make a choice back then—between the life I thought I wanted in the city and the one waiting for me here. Not just the diner, but the kind of life I wanted for myself and my son.”

Ruby nodded, her chest tightening. “I never thought I’d feel so torn about this. When I first got here, all I wanted was to sell the house and leave. But now...”

“Now you’ve gotten a taste of what Aspen Cove has to offer,” Maisey finished for her. “The sense of community, the way everyone looks out for each other. Not to mention a certain handsome goat farmer.”

Ruby’s cheeks flushed at the mention of Becket. “He’s part of it too,” she admitted. “I can’t imagine not having him in my life now.”

Maisey reached out and patted Ruby’s hand. “Listen, honey. You need to figure out what kind of life you’re looking for. If it’s fast-paced city living you want, then maybe Aspen Cove isn’t the place for you. But if it’s a life with that goat herder of yours, well ... I’m sure the city isn’t too keen on having goats roaming around.”

Ruby laughed at that, picturing Houdini trying to navigate a Chicago sidewalk.

“There’s no right or wrong answer here,” Maisey continued. “You’ve got to do what feels right for you. But don’t make this decision based solely on the money. Consider what you’d be gaining or giving up, too.”

Ruby took a deep breath, feeling some of the tension leave her body. “Thank you, Maisey. You’ve given me a lot to think about.”

As Ruby stood to leave, Maisey called out, “Whatever you decide, we’ll understand, and we’ll be here for you.”

The words warmed Ruby’s heart as she stepped back out into the cold night air. Her mind was still swirling with thoughts, but now there was a glimmer of clarity among the confusion.

She made her way back to Uncle Peter’s house, her steps slow and thoughtful. The was a sense of togetherness and community that seemed to permeate every corner of Aspen Cove. She thought about Becket, about the goats, about the unexpected joy she’d found here.

By the time Ruby reached the front porch, she knew she wasn’t ready to decide yet. There was still so much to consider, so much she wasn’t sure about. But for the first time since receiving the offer, she finally had the space to truly weigh her options.

As she opened the door, the scent of gingerbread enveloped her. Becket looked up from his icing work.

“Hey,” he said. “Feeling better?”

Ruby nodded, moving to stand beside him at the kitchen counter. “A little. I’ve got a lot to think about, but talking to Katie and Maisey helped. ”

Becket’s eyes searched hers, concern evident in his expression. “Yeah? Want to talk about it?”

Ruby shook her head. “Not just yet. I think I need to let things settle a bit first. But thank you. For being here, for understanding.”

Becket nodded, respecting her need for space. “Whenever you’re ready, I’m here to listen.”

Ruby leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. “I know. Now, how about you teach me the secret to your award-winning gingerbread decorating?”

As they worked side by side, laughing and teasing each other, some of the weight lifted from Ruby’s shoulders. She knew she had a big decision ahead of her, but for now, she was content to live in the moment. The future, with all its uncertainties and possibilities, could wait until tomorrow.